Econo Lodge Lookout Mountain

The room itself was fine, and it was only one night at a cheaper hotel, so I wasn’t expecting much. But the service was awful. I booked through the Choice Rewards app and I’m a platinum member. The man at the front desk was hard to understand, though that alone wasn’t a huge deal. There were hardly any other guests, but they put us on the third floor anyway. The room cost $60, and they asked for a $50 deposit. We paid it, knowing we wouldn’t smoke in the room and would get the deposit back. At checkout, the man accused my husband and me of smoking in the bathroom and lying about it. I don’t smoke, and my husband went out to the car to smoke. Being accused of lying crossed the line. He said he’d return the deposit this time, but we shouldn’t come back because he wouldn’t give us a room again. No problem, I wouldn’t return. This hotel is a scam: they lure people with cheap rooms, then accuse them of lying to try to keep the deposit. Don’t stay here unless you want to be accused and lose your money.

The owner canceled my online booking and charged more when I checked in. I used to stay here every year on the night before Bonnaroo, but the hassle isn’t worth it anymore. Look elsewhere and save yourself the headache and lies.

The price more than makes up for the lack of breakfast. I usually think of Econo Logde as one of the cheaper options, but this one surprised me: it was quiet and clean, the bed was comfortable, and the staff were great.

It’s a cheap hotel, and you get what you pay for. The bed was clean, at least, and I was fine without shampoo, conditioner, or a hair dryer since I’d brought my own products from the Walmart nearby. But the listing says breakfast is included, and coffee and juice alone don’t count as breakfast. If you don’t expect an actual breakfast, you’ll be okay.